Multicolor-printing press.



No. sas,|72. Patented Dec. 3, l90l.

- .1. c. HAWES.

MULTIGOLDR PRINTING PRESS.

. (Appiicntion filed June 2, 1900.} (No Model.) 6 Shaets-Sheet I.

I d. attozwm w: mums PETERS co. puma-mum, msumawn, o. c.

No. 688,l72. 4 Patented Dec. 3. l90l. J. c. HAWES.

MULTIGOLOR PRINTING PRESS.

- (Application filed June 2, 1900.] (No Model.) 6 Sheets8heet 2.

' ammroz L a 62 M 7 t "menu a m4? m %wqM flttoz m.

No. 688,!72. Patented Dec. 3, I901.

J. C. HAWES.

MULTICOLUR PRINTING PRESS.

(Application filed June 2, 1900.] (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

attomwg;

Pate nted Dec. 3, I901. J. C. HAWES.

MULTIGDLUR PRINTING PRESS.

(Application filed June 2, 190oJ (No Model.)

6 ShaetsSheet 4.

awuwwboz N0. 688.l72. Patented Dec. 3, l90l.

J. c. HAWES.

mumcomn PRINTING PRESS.

(Application filed June 2, 1900.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 wwv (WI/box rm: uonms PETERS co, mow-urnswnsumcwou. u c.

No. 688,02. Patented Dec. 3, I90l. J. C. HAWES.

MULTICOLOB PRINTING PRESS.

(Application filed June 2, 1900.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Shoat e. 69

lTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. HAVVES, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN.

MULTlCOLOR-PRINTING PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 688,172, dated December3, 1901. Application filed June 2, 1900. Serial No. 18,915. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that 1, JOHN G. HAWES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin M ulticolor-PrintingPresses, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to multicolor-printing presses, the primary objectbeing to provide simple and effective mechanism for printing in aplurality of colors at a single impression.

The main characteristic feature of the invention is the provision ofnovel means for inking difierent portions of the form or types byindependent inking-rolls, so that one part of the form may be inked inone color and another portion or section in another color, the varietyor number of colors employed being dependent upon the requirements ofthe work to be done.

A further object of the invention is to render the operation of themechanism (aside from the required motive power) entirely automatic, sothat no adjustment or manipulation of the printing cylinder or formswill be required, the construction and arrangement of the inking-rollsand gearing being such as to insure the proper registry of theinkingrolls and the form or types and the application of a plurality ofcolors to the form, whereby a single impression will suffice to completethe work in any desired number of colors.

The invention is susceptible of embodiment in different forms and isequally applicable to cylinder-presses or to those employing a fiatprinting-surface or horizontal bed-plate.

In addition to the broad features above outlined the invention consistsin the improved details of construction hereinafter fully described, anddefined in the appended claims, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, which constitute a part of this specification, and in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a cylinder printing press withmy improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thesame, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective ofa portion ofthe gearing for driving one of the inking-rolls. Fig. is a view, partlyin vertical section and partly in elevation, of the mechanism shown inFig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of one of the inking-rolls, itsmovement with relation to the printing-cylinder being indicated bybroken lines. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the inner side of oneof thegear-wheels mounted on the shafts of the inking-rolls. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation of the invention as applied to a bed-plate press. Fig. 8 is atop plan of Fig. 7 with the ink-belts and parts of the frame removed.Fig. 9 is a vertical section on one side of the press shown in Fig. 7.Fig. 10 is a similar View with the parts in a different position. Fig.11 is a section on the line x of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a perspective viewof one end of one of the inking-rolls.

Each side of the frame of the press, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of thedrawings, comprises vertical bars 1 and converging supports 2, thelatter connected by horizontal bars 3 and 4: and braced to the bars 1 byhorizontal braces and 6. Upon the bars 3 and 4 are supported thebearings for the bed-roller 7 and priuting-cylinder 8. As theconstruction of these bearings is a novel feature of the invention, theywill be described more specifically hereinafter.

To the inner side of each of the frames formed by the converging bars 2is secured a circular support 9, to which are firmly bolted a pluralityof radially-disposed arms 10, the number of said arms depending upon thenumber of in king-rolls employed. In the machine shown in Fig. 1 five ofthese arms are employed at each side of the machine, serving tosupportfive inking-rolls, (designated by the numeral 11.) Each of thearms is centrally recessed on its outer surface, as shown at 12, andformed with two elongated slots 13 and 14 for the passage and adjustment of the shafts 15 and 16 of the inking-rolls 11 and thebelt-rolls 17.

18 designates the shaft of the printing-cylinder 8, said shaftprojecting beyond the frame-bars 2 and having a belt-pulley 19 mountedthereon for the application of power to operate the entire mechanism.

The ends of the shafts 16 of the belt-rolls are supported in yokes 20,adjustably secured upon the outer ends of the arms 10 by means ofset-screws 21.

The endless ink-belts 22 pass around the rolls 17 and rolls 23, thelatter being mounted shafts extend, said sleeves being supported inbearings on the inner sides of the arms 10. As shown in Figs. 4, 5, and6, the internal diameter of the axial supporting-sleeves of thegear-wheels 28 is greater than that of the shafts 15, permitting thelatter to move within the sleeves; but to insure the revolution of theinking-rolls with the gear-wheels 28 an arm 31 is fixed to each end ofthe shafts 15, the free ends 32 of said arms being forked 'or bifurcatedto straddle pins 33, projecting from the inner faces of the wheels 28.This connection of the inking-rolls and gear-wheels permits a limitedlateral or radial movement of the rolls 8, but causes them to revolvewhen their gear-wheels are revolved by the gear-wheels 27 of theprinting-cylinder.

34 designates the paper-feed roll, and 35 a guide-roller around whichthe printed product 36 passes, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Each of the inking-rolls 11 is provided adjacent to each of its endswith an annular flange or collar 37, the collars on one of said .rollsbeing out of vertical alinement with those on the other rolls. Theprinting-cylinder is formed near its ends with a series of peripheralslots 38, said slots varyingin length and being in diderent verticalplanes. By means of these slots and the collars on the inkingrolls theinking-rolls are permitted to contact with the types or form on theprinting-cylinder at predetermined intervals. The collars on the inking-rolls bear against the surface of the printing-cylinder, so thatthe inked surfaces of said rolls do not contact with the printingcylinder, except when the collars are brought into alinement with theslots in the printing-cylinder. When the collars reach the particularslots adapted to receive them, the inking-rolls drop into contact withthe printing-cylinder to ink that part of the form lying between theslots. The shaft 15' of each of the rolls is under the tension ofcoil-springs 39, supported in the slots 13 of the arms 10, and saidsprings assist gravity to project the collars into their slots. As soonas eachinkingroll inks its portion of the form the continued revolutionof the printing-cylinder rides the collars out of the slots, thuslifting the roll away from the surface of the printing-cylinder.

It will be obvious from the illustration in Fig. 1 that inks ofdifferent color are supplied to the respective ink-rolls by means of thebelts 22, which receive their supply of ink from the feed-rollers 24,mounted in the vats or troughs 25, the revolution of the belts beingeffected by the rolls 17, which are geared to the gear-wheels 28 of theinking-rolls.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, I willdescribe the inventionas applied to a bedplate press. The numeral 48 designates theinking-rolls, supported in bearings formed in vertical arms 49, securedto the frame 50 of the machine and provided with collars 51, adapted toenter slots 52, formed in the bedplate 53 of the press. 54 designatesbelt-rollers, also mounted in bearings in the arms 49 and supportingink-belts 55, said belts also passing around rollers 56, supported byarms 57, projecting from ink troughs or vats 58, arranged upon arms 59,projecting from the arch of the frame. The bed-plate53 is provided ateach side with racks 61, meshing with gearwheels 62, loosely mountedupon the ends of the shafts 63 of the inking-rollers. As shown in Figs.9 and 10, these gear-wheels are each formed with a sleeve 64, throughwhich the shafts 63 extend, and to the inner surface of each of thegear-wheels is pivotally secured a pawl 65, provided with a spring 66.These pawls engage ratchet-wheels 67,fixed uponthe shafts 63. By thisconstruction and connection of the inking-rolls and wheels 62 theinking-rolls are permitted to drop into inking contact with thebed-plate, when the collars on said rolls enter the slots in thebed-plate. Instead of forming the slots 52 in the bed-plate I preferablyemploy a series of strips 52 at each side of the bed-plate and divide orslot the strips at the proper points to accommodate the collars 51 ofthe inking-rolls. The shafts 68 of the belt-rollers 54 are provided attheir ends with fixed gear-wheels 69, which mesh with the gear-wheels62. The arms 49 are formed with elongated slots 70 to receive the shafts63, coil-springs 71 being located within said slots, the tendency ofsaid springs being to force the shafts downward. The numeral 72designates antifriction-rollers upon which the bed-plate reciprocates.The operation of the bed-plate press as thus described, so far as theinking of the form is concerned, is substantially similar to that aboveset forth in connection with the cylinder-press.

I would have it understood that the ma chine is susceptible of manymodifications in its details of construction and that I am notrestricted to all of the details shown and described. I thereforereserve the right to make all such changes and modifications as may fallwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a multicolor-printing press, the com bination with a movableprinting-surface, of a plurality of slottedarms supported by the frameof the press, a plurality of inking-rolls supported adjustably in saidarms, and means for moving said rolls toward and from the ICCprinting-surface without interrupting their rotary movement, comprisinga gear-wheel having a projecting sleeve to receive the shaft of theinking-roll, and a sliding connection between said shaft and gear-wheel.

2. In a multicolor-printing press, the combination with aprinting-cylinder, of a plurality of inking-rolls geared to thecylinder, and means for eifecting a radial movement of the rolls withrelation to the cylinder Without interrupting'their rotation, comprisinga gear-wheel having a projecting sleeve to receive the shaft of theinking-roll, and a sliding connection between said shaft and gearwheel.

3. In a multicolor-printing press, the combination with a rotaryprinting-cylinder, of a plurality of radially-disposed slotted arms,inking-rolls supported by said arms and re- Volved by the cylinder, andmeans for permitting the rolls to move into and out of inking contactwith the cylinder without interrupting the rotation of said rolls,comprising a gear-wheel having a projecting sleeve to receive the shaftof the inking-roll, and a sliding connection between said shaft andgearwheel.

4. In a multicolor-printing press, the combination with a rotaryprinting-cylinder, and a bed-roller geared to the cylinder, of aplurality of inking-rolls also geared to the cylinder, and means formoving the rolls into, and out of inking contact with the cylinderWithout interrupting their rotation, comprising a gear-wheel having aprojecting sleeve to receive the shaft of the inking-roll, and a slidingconnection between said shaft and gearwheel.

5. In a multicolor-printing press, the combination with a rotaryprinting-cylinder, and a bed-roller geared thereto, of a plurality ofslotted and recessed arms disposed radially with relation to thecylinder, a plurality of inking-rolls supported by said arms and gearedto said cylinder, means for moving the inking-rollers into and out ofinking contact with the cylinder withoutinterrupting their rotarymovement, comprising a gear-Wheel having a projecting sleeve to receivethe shaft of the inking-roll, and a sliding connection between saidshaft and gear-wheel, and a plurality of belt rollers adjustablysupported by said arms.

6. In a multicolor-printing press, the combination with a revolubleprinting-cylinder formed with peripheral elongated slots; of a pluralityof inking-rollers each formed with peripheral collars; gear-wheels onthe shafts of said inking-rolls each formed with a bearing-sleevethrough which the shaft of the inking-roller extends; andabifurcated armfixed to said shaft, and straddling a pin projecting from thegear-wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C, HAWES.

iVitnesses:

L. B. GARDNER, WM. A. FRASER.

